NEWS Estonian Film and TV Awards

The happy team of The Last Ones. The film won four awards altogether.

The special prize of Best Achievement in Film Making was given to make-up artist Kaire Hendrikson.

Simply the Best

Mari Lill won the Best Actress award for her fantastic work in Rasmus Merivoo’s dark comedy Kratt.

Best Animation Film award went to The Stork directed by Morten Tšinakov and Lucija Mrzljak For the fifth time, the Estonian Film and Television Awards were given out on September 17, 2021. In total, 30 EFTA awards were given, including 15 in the field of film, and 15 in the field of television.

By EFI Photos by Erlend Štaub

TThe award ceremony was initially planned to take place in spring 2021, but due to the COVID-19 related restrictions it was postponed already for the second year to September 2021.

Best Feature Film award went to The Last Ones directed by Veiko Õunpuu – a drama spiced with dark humour, produced in collaboration with Estonia, Finland, and the Netherlands. The main production company of the film is Homeless Bob Production, producer Katrin Kissa. Veiko Õunpuu also received Best Director’s award for the same film.

Best Documentary award went to A Loss of Something Ever Felt directed by Carlos E. Lesmes, produced by Alasti Kino, producer Liis Nimik. Best Actress award went to Estonian theatre legend Mari Lill for her grandmother’s role in the black family comedy Kratt, directed by Rasmus Merivoo. Best Actor award was given to Finnish film star Tommi Korpela for his powerful work in Veiko Õunpuu’s The Last Ones.

Best Animation Film award went to The Stork directed by Morten Tšinakov and Lucija Mrzljak, produced in Eesti Joonisfilm Studio. Best Short Film award was given to Ülo Pikkov’s emotional experimental film The Tortoise and

The CEO of Estonian Film Instutute, Edith Sepp, handing the award for the Best Short Film to Ülo Pikkov.

the Hare. Best Screenwriter award went to Lauri Randla for his debut film Goodbye Soviet Union that Randla also directed. The film was produced by Exitfilm in collaboration with Bufo, Finland. The jury gave Best Cinematographer award to Sten-Johan Lill for his excellent camerawork in Veiko Õunpuu’s The Last Ones. Best Editing award went to Hendrik Mägar for his masterful work in the documentary A Loss of Something Ever Felt. Best Sound Director award was won by the team consisting of Külli Tüli, Fred Jüssi, Henri Kuus, and Horret Kuus for their work in documentary Fred Jüssi. The Beauty of Being, produced by Taska Film and directed by Jaan Tootsen. Best Film Composer award went to Timo Steiner for his work on the documentary Ülo Sooster. The Man who Dried a Towel in the Wind, produced by Baltic Film Production and directed by Lilija Vjugina.

Best Production Design award was given to Eugen Tamberg for the film On the Water, produced by Filmivabrik and directed by Peeter Simm. Best Costume Design award went to Liis Plato for her work in the film Rain, produced by Alasti Kino and directed by Janno Jürgens. The special prize of Best Achievement in Film Making was also given out this year – to the beloved make-up artist Kaire Hendrikson for her extremely masterful work in various film projects.

Lauri Lippmaa, chairman of the film jury of EFTA 2021 and member of the Estonian Screenwriters’ Guild, says that it has been extremely difficult to select the winners among this year’s nominees. Lippmaa states: “The jury was completely unanimous only in one category, namely Best Editor, where Hendrik Mägar excelled. He edited A Loss of Something Ever Felt, and succeeded in conveying the emotional core of stories that touch people’s hearts.” He

The Best Screenwriter award went to Lauri Randla for his film Goodbye Soviet Union (on the left). Timo Steiner won the Film Composer award for his work on the documentary Ülo Sooster. The Man who Dried a Towel in the Wind.

The award gala ended with happy notes - the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, gave out the award for the

Best Feature. also adds: “The prevailing majority of jury votes also proved that the Best Feature award should go to The Last Ones, the collaboration film between Estonia, Finland, and the Netherlands. The cameraman of the film, Sten-Johan Lill, depicted the Nordic darkness really well, so he received the Best Cinematographer award. And without doubt, the charismatic core of the film is built by Finnish actor Tommi Korpela who gave a suggestive and largely improvisational performance in The Last Ones, and was given Best Actor award for his role.”

The chairman of the film jury acknowledged all the filmmakers for their contribution during the difficult era of the pandemic – in every way, professionals in the field of film have managed to produce several very successful films. EF

Best Documentary award went to A Loss of Something Ever Felt directed by Carlos E. Lesmes (on the right), produced by Liis Nimik (on the left).